All About Partnership at Central
Central is a vibrant, multi-cultural community of Christ-followers who faithfully give their tithes and offerings, serve wholeheartedly, and participate actively in Groups. So what is the difference between a regular attender who does all these things, and a Partner at Central?
Partnership is a formal commitment to the mission and vision of Central, signifying a deeper level of involvement and mutual accountability with church leadership. It reflects a willingness to take ownership and responsibility for the church family by contributing time, talents, and resources each year. Partners lead by example—demonstrating generosity through giving, joy in serving, spiritual growth through Groups, and a Spirit-led life as outlined in the Ministry Covenant.
What is Central’s mission?
Our mission is simple: HELPING PEOPLE CONNECT TO GOD AND OTHERS. We live in a region and a world that is far from God and needs desperately to know Him. We’re committed to doing whatever we can to be within reach of people to reveal His love.
Why Partnership Matters
A strong and engaged partnership is the foundation for the growth and sustainability of our church. When more people step into partnership, we build a stronger, more united community that is equipped to lead, serve, and impact lives in the Niagara Region. Further, we need partnership to be recognized as a charitable organization by the Government. Without partnership, Central would not be able to function as it needs to- Partnership is essential!
Benefits of Becoming a Partner at Central
- Deeper Connection – Strengthen your relationship with Central’s mission and leadership.
- Exclusive Updates – Be the first to hear about ministry impact, building projects, and future plans.
- Leadership Growth – Gain access to mentorship, leadership training, and personal development opportunities.
- Greater Sense of Belonging – Be part of a Christ-centred, purpose-driven community where your voice matters.
- Influence Church Decisions – Play a role in shaping Central’s future through governance (attending and voting at the Annual Business Meeting) and vision-setting.
If you consider Central your home church and are actively involved- why not take the next step towards becoming a Partner today? When more people commit to the mission, the greater impact we can make together. Let’s move forward with boldness, vision, and faith!
The partnership commitment
When you commit to Partnership at Central, you commit to:
- The Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:15-16)
- In one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16,17; Mark 12:29)
- In the virgin birth, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 7:14; Romans 8:34; Acts 1:10-11)
- In the forgiveness of sin through Jesus (Isaiah 55:7; Romans 4:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
- In water baptism as a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5)
- In divine healing (Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:13, 14)
- In the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live a holy life (Hebrew 12:14; Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 15:8-9)
- In the second coming of Jesus Christ (Acts 24:15; Matthew 24:30,31; Revelation 20:11-15)
Visit centralcc.ca/groups for more information on Central GROUPS.
- We believe that giving is an integral part of our relationship with God. It acknowledges God as the giver of everything we have (James 1:17). It reflects our trust that God will provide for us. It is our way of refusing to allow our possessions to consume or define us (Matthew 6:19-24). It allows us to be a part of His work here on Earth (2 Cor. 9:6-7). And it’s a way for us to follow through on what God has asked us to do (Malachi 3:8-12; Proverbs 3:9).
- Be growing spiritually as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit.
- Read your Bible regularly and pray on your own and corporately.
- Refrain from acts or attitudes such as sexual conduct outside of biblical marriage, occults practices, dissentions, gossip, criminal activity and abuse or any other behaviour that doesn’t align with biblical principles or would improperly represent Jesus Christ.
- Both partners and leaders commit to living and learning according to biblical principals and the values that Central holds.
How Do I Become A Partner?
In order to become a partner at Central, everyone must go through the following application process:
- We encourage all of our partners to actively engage in the life of the church. The first step in becoming a partner is to get involved by regularly participating in a Group or serving in a volunteer role.
- Please take your time reading through all the Partnership information before completing your application. Once you’re ready, you can submit your application online using the link found at the top of this page.
- Our team will forward your application to a board member who will meet with you to review the information and get to know you a little better. This is often done on Sunday mornings.
- If you are not yet able to commit to the expectations of Partnership, (ie: you still need to join a Group or commit to a serving team, or you haven’t yet started tithing), the Board member will let you know how to get started and will return your application for you to resubmit once you can fulfil the expectation. Once the board member confirms that you are committed to the expectations of a Partner, your application will be included in the next board meeting agenda for final approval. Within a couple of weeks of the meeting, you can expect to receive a welcome email.
Renewable Partnership
- We understand that life circumstances change, and it’s easy to forget to update your contact details or situation with church leadership. To ensure accurate records and accountability, Central has implemented an annual partnership renewal process. This not only helps maintain an accurate quorum for our Annual Business Meetings but also keeps our communication channels up to date.
- Each fall, all Partners will receive a simple online renewal form. The process is quick—just review five statements and respond with a “yes” or “no.” If your information and level of commitment remain unchanged, your Partnership status will continue as is. However, if you find yourself unable to meet any of the expectations, your Partnership will lapse, and a member of our leadership team will reach out for a conversation about your situation.
- If you have any questions regarding Partnership, feel free to contact the Central Board at board@centralcc.ca. We appreciate your commitment and look forward to continuing this journey together!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We won’t be able to process your application if you aren’t committed to the expectations of a Partner, including joining a Group or serving on a ministry team. You can start either process by finding a Group to join or filling out a Volunteer Form. You can also complete our electronic Connection Card and someone from our team will follow up with you.
No. You can start the Volunteer process as soon as you want to- in fact, we’d love to have you join our volunteer team! While there are leadership positions that require Partnership as a prerequisite, there are many serving opportunities for those who are not Partners. You can get started in your volunteer journey by filling out a Volunteer Form.
Yes. We place great trust in our Group Leaders and high-level Ministry Leaders because they are responsible for guiding and caring for individuals who matter deeply to us. Given the significant influence you hold and the trust required to lead and disciple others, it is essential that those you lead can have confidence in your accountability to Central’s leadership. As leaders, we must also ensure that you consistently represent Central’s mission and values.
Sort of. We encourage you to let your previous church know you are attending a new church, and we will gladly receive any transfer of membership letter as a recommendation and reference. However, it is important to us that you understand what Central is all about and that you are committed to the expectations of Partnership specific to Central. Therefore, we will still ask you to follow the partnership process as listed above.
If your Partnership has lapsed for more than 3 years, we ask that you begin the Partnership process from the start as shown above. Lots can change in 3 years and this gives us an opportunity to update your information while connecting to see how you are doing and how we can support you in your journey.
If your Partnership has lapsed for 3 years or less, contact board@centralcc.ca for a copy of the current renewal form. Submitted renewal forms confirm that you currently meet the commitments of a Partner and will be forwarded to the next Board meeting for review, after which you will receive notice of your Partnership status.
Like with everything we do, we use the word Partnership intentionally. Membership is often associated with things like gyms and golf clubs: you pay your fees and you get the privileges. We don’t believe that’s the case here. This is a partnership. This is linking arms and walking side by side together toward a common goal – helping people connect to God and each other.
If you have other questions please contact our Central Board at board@centralcc.ca and they will be happy to bring clarity.
